I HOPE U.N. is Joking...

I just came across this article about "United Nations’ New Arms Watchdog: North Korea" and hoped that U.N. was pulling a prank on the world.....

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North Korean Defector/Refugee Commits Suicide

Last week, my good friend Mr. Joe sent me this article.

Won Kyung Seo's body was found hanging at his family's home on June 18th. His wife was found dead with stab wounds. According to the article, Seo family defected North Korea and settled in Rochester, GA a year and a half ago.

The Seos were a family of four refugees from North Korea and their journey to Rochester was all but easy. They escaped one of the most oppressive, isolated nations in the world and in doing so, they faced the threat of execution every step of the way... 

...On Saturday, June 18th, police found the body of Won Kyung Seo hanging in the upstairs apartment of his family’s home on South Clinton Avenue. His wife Young Hwa Kim, had fatal stab wounds. One of their sons found their bodies and police say it was an apparent murder-suicide.

I'm starting to get a feeling that Mr. Seo probably killed his wife, out of impulse anger while they were arguing, then took his life after he realized what he did. The article does state that Mr. Seo and his wife had marital issues and police were called because of their fights.

Only Mr. Seo and his family knows what really happened on Saturday night but those who knew the family say the couple had marital issues. Neighbors say the sons have had to call the police to their home before because of their parents’ fights.
Domestic violence happens to people in all situations and from all backgrounds. But add to that the stresses of being in a new country. It doesn’t make anything better.

 Maybe after months of having marital issue with his wife, he lashed out at the moment and took an action that he regretted.

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Quick Update: China Lays Claim to Arirang (What?!?! among other things they lay claim to??)

So I was on www.daum.net, which I go on to check updates on Korean news. Then I found out that Koreans were outraged by China. Why? because China was registering Korea's unofficial national anthem "Arirang" (아리랑), as part of its own cultural heritage. (Source) However, Beijing explained that it registered the song as part of culture of ethnic Koreans in China.

China has outraged patriotic Koreans by registering the folk song "Arirang," widely considered Korea's unofficial national anthem, as part of its own cultural heritage. 

Beijing says it merely registered the song as part of the culture of ethnic Koreans in China...

I am going to have to call B.S. on this one and agree with "some" experts on this issue because it seems that China has already registered other things before this.

Earlier, China had designated as its own cultural heritage the traditional Korean feast celebrating one's 60th birthday, traditional Korean wedding ceremony, the traditional Korean dress hanbok and a farmer's dance, saying they are practiced by ethnic Korean in northeastern China. 

The Korean Arirang Association in a statement on Wednesday said, "When China first designated some ethnic Korean cultural customs including the farmer's dance in Yanbian as part of its own culture, rumors started to circulate that China would go further than that, and it seems they have become a reality now." It said the move "is a definite threat at a time when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has chosen 'Arirang' among 100 icons representing Korea and has linked the song with efforts to promote the country's brand image." 

China succeeded in registering the Yanbian farmer's dance on the UN World Heritage list in 2009. 

The article says that "some" experts believe this: 

...move is an extension of the Chinese Academy for Social Sciences' "Northeast Project," which critics say sought to co-opt the culture of the early Korean kingdoms. 

I agree with these experts. I believe there are more things to come. For some people who doesn't know what Northeast Project is, here you go.  Basically, China launched a study back in 2002 and claimed that Koguryo history belongs to China, not Korea. That wasn't the only time China made a claim to something that belonged to Korea. Back in 2010, there was a case where China made a claim to Korean alphabet Hangul (한글) (Source)

What do I think about this?? I think Korean politicians should wake the hell up and do something about this. Also, Koreans should take more interested in issues like this and fight. Dokdo is not the only thing issue that we need to fight for.

In the mean time... While I keep close eye on this issue, you guys can enjoy "Arirang" and... oh.. Kim Yuna =)

[Post Script: An interesting article about a man and arirang. Here.]

OH~ Canada~

Sometimes, I want to move to Canada. Why? Because its government is a pushover and so easy to convince. I am just kidding about that. But here is the reason why. 

Basically, the Maeng family moved to Canada in 2003 from South Korea, after their son, Sung-joo, was diagnosed with mental illness in 2001. While the family was bidding for permanent residency in Canada, they were told by the government that had to leave the country, I think, on the basis that they disclosed their son's mental illness when they applied for temporary visa. However...

The Maeng family's story has attracted national attention because federal officials had said the family had to leave Canada by June 30 because providing health care and social services for 14-year-old Sung-Joo would put too much strain on the system...

...Lawyer Jack Haller said he and the two other lawyers working on the case were baffled by the federal government's initial decision to deport the family, and the legal team was poised to seek an injunction to stop the process...

...Meanwhile, an online petition supporting the family's wish to stay in Canada had attracted 7,000 signatures.

What surprised me the most were these two things.

Haller [family's attorney] said Sung-Joo doesn't require expensive medications, will likely be home-schooled and has incurred about $1,000 in hospital-care costs in the past four years.

...the province has confirmed it will cover the health costs associated with the family's autistic son, a federal source confirmed Thursday.

Hospital-care cost over four years was only $1,000!!!!! AND, here is the best part: they are going to cover the health cost for the family's autistic son. This will NEVER happen in the U.S., even though U.S. is the richest and the greatest country in the world (in my view), because U.S. health care system is garbage and no politicians will fix it. 

Way to go Canada for welcoming another immigrant family to make its country better, and doing what is right.

Kpop Wave Sweeps Europe

So couple of days ago, I saw this on the news:

What is going on in France???? NO, they are not taking over the Bastille Castle.
Nearly 1000 European kpop fans are conducting a demonstration in front of Louvre Museum, demanding S.M. Entertainment (previously Soo Man Entertainment, now "Star Museum" Entertainment) to extend their Kpop concert in France to 2nd day. (OMG!!! I understood what these people were singing in Korean!! Their pronunciation is right on!) Tickets, which went on sale last April, were sold out within first 15 minutes it went on sale. These people were the slow ones who could not buy the tickets on time. As a result, they are out conducting a demonstration. KBS News clip also stated that this kind of demonstration was not only in France, but also in Germany, Spain, and Swiss. Fortunately, after all the dancing and singing, these people got their wish granted because S.M. Entertainment decided to extend their to 2nd day.

This is interesting for me because I honestly thought the apex of Kpop was going to be Asia. I mean, even though I do enjoy listening to Kpop, I never thought Kpop was considered "music". If I wanted to listen to Korean "music", I'd turn on Kim Kwang Suk, Lucid Fall, 10cm, or Lee Moon Sae (whose concert I am hoping to attend next week).

I guess I am proven wrong..

Then yesterday, while I was watching the Korean news, I saw this craziness!!!

Fans from all over Europe were at Charles de Gaulle Airport, waiting for the arrival of Kpop stars, like SuperJunior, SHINee (pronounced \ˈshī-nē\ - shiny), f(x), etc.. How long will this Kpop "wave" last??? I do not know. I am shocked enough by this already. I will not assume anything else because I will never know where Kpop will next strike. Maybe U.S.???


[My confession to everyone.. I was listening to Girl's Generation while I was writing this post. ㅠ.ㅠ;;;]

So You Need 50 Reasons Why Seoul is the Greatest City??

Couple of weeks ago, CNNgo published an article 50 Reasons Why Seoul is the World's Greatest City.

While I do agree with most of the things on the list, i.e. live octopus, ice princess (kim yuna), 찜질방, beautiful (fake) women, and etc... I think they forgot one thing - the public transportation. Many will agree that Korea's public transportation is very well connected, very informative, and English friendly all at a reasonable cost. Here is a map of subway system in Korea. It literally covers every grounds on Seoul. If you need to find a subway station, you can walk for about 5 minutes, and BAM!! There it is. What? You don't feel like walking? Hop on the metro bus, which literally comes every 5 to 10 minutes, and it will most likely stop at a subway station.

Putting public transportation aside, I think the list is almost right on. If you are planning to visit Korea anytime soon, I suppose this list will be a great introduction to the city.

...And the World's Second Best Country is...!!!!

The DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA!!!

North Korea released its own "study" of global happiness index and it ranked DPRK (朝鮮 chosun) 2nd after China (中國), who placed first.You can read the article here.

               China is the happiest place on earth(!!) according to a new global happiness index released by North Korea's Chosun Central Television. China earned 100 out of 100 points, followed closely by North Korea (98 points), then Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela.

And the last place went to U.S., who ranked 203rd. South Korea (南朝鮮 nam-chosun) is ranked somewhere on the bottom at 152nd.

Coming in at 203rd place is America (or rather "the American Empire", 美帝国), with only 3 happiness points. South Korea got a measly 18 points for 152nd place.

@#$%@#%$#^!!!! Did my parents immigrate to the wrong country?!?!? I thought U.S. was supposed to be the greatest country in the world. That's why I'm here. However, after looking at these pictures, I think North Korea was pretty accurate with their global happiness index. (sarcasm)

Putting my sarcasm aside.........
Actually, I have nothing more to say about this, but take a look at this - Reality of North Korea. 

Kim Jong-il and his thugs are just ridiculous.